Warren, Fonash Both Urged To Run For Legislature

Republican Commissioner Andrew L. Warren and Democratic Commissioner Carl F. Fonash are both being pressured by their respective parties to enter races next year for seats in the state Legislature.

Warren has been approached by a number of Bucks County Republicans to run for the 144th District seat in the state House that will be vacated in 1986 by incumbent Benjamin H. Wilson.

Fonash is under pressure from Democratic leaders in Bucks to campaign for the 10th District seat in the state Senate.

"A week doesn't go by when the subject hasn't come up," said Fonash.

In separate interviews, both Fonash and Warren said they are leaning away from entering the contests. However, the two commissioners also said they haven't entirely shut the door about the possibility of giving up their courthouse positions for seats in Harrisburg.

Wilson has announced that he will not run next year for the House seat that he has held for 19 years. He will instead campaignfor the Republican nomination for the 10th District Senate seat.

The incumbent in the 10th District is Republican Edward L. Howard, who will retire at the completion of his current term.

Political insiders say Warren's name has been repeatedly mentioned as a probable GOP candidate for the 144th District vacancy created by Wilson's decision to seek Howard's seat.

"A number of people have mentioned it to me," said Warren. "Nothing is definitive, but I'm not going out and buy 'Warren for State Rep' campaign buttons."

Warren, who was first elected county commissioner in 1979, said he has spoken with Wilson about running for the seat. Warren added that he remains open to discussion about becoming a candidate for the 144th District House seat between now and the primary next spring. He added, though, that at this time he considers himself to be a candidate for re-election to commissioner in 1987.

The 144th District includes municipalities in Central Bucks as well as the borough of Dublin and a portion of Hilltown Township in Upper Bucks.

As for Fonash, Democratic Chairman Eugene Kellis said he expects party leaders to resume their pressure on the commissioner after the beginning of next year.

"He'd certainly be a very viable candidate," said Kellis. "He has a high voter identity, and he is well-known."

The 10th District includes all of Upper Bucks and much of Central Bucks.

Fonash was also first elected to his courthouse office in 1979. The commissioner said that when he first entered politics, he had no ambition to run for office outside Bucks County.

He added that with two years to go in his second term, there are still many unresolved issues that need his attention in the courthouse.

"My roots are here," he said. "I'm making a contribution to this area."